2017–18 Levante UD Femenino season

The 2017–18 season of Levante UD Femenino was the 19th season of the women's team of football club Levante UD. The team was 8th in Primera División and a quarterfinalist in the Copa de la Reina.

Levante UD Femenino
2017–18 season
ChairmanQuico Catalán
ManagerAndrés Tudela
(until February 13)
Kino García
StadiumBuñol Sports City
Primera DivisiónEighth
Copa de la ReinaQuarterfinalist
Top goalscorerCharlyn Corral (25)
Highest home attendance14,000
Lowest home attendance50
← 2016–17
2018–19 →

Season summary

Levante had ended the previous season's championship in the 4th position, same as in 2015–16, ending the league campaign on a positive note by defeating Barcelona, which needed a victory and an Atlético Madrid miss to win the title, after a 4-game away losing streak including a record 6–0 defeat against local rival Valencia in Mestalla before an attendance of 17,000.[1] Valencia ended the competition third with an unseen 11 point advantage over Levante.

Few days later it was reported in the media that the squad's captains had expressed a lack of tune with manager Andrés Tudela, who had its contract renewed for two more seasons in April,[2] along with objections to the planning of the trainings and an alleged lack of functionality in the section's structure in a meeting with the club's chairman, Quico Catalán.[3] After a loss against lower-ranked Granadilla in the Copa de la Reina's quarterfinals against lower-ranked Granadilla put an end to the season, it was reported that this rift would likely result in the departure of over half the squad.[4]

In the end ten players left the team in the summer transfer market, including internationals Noelia Bermúdez, Raquel Infante, Olivia Oprea, Nagore Calderón, Adriana Martín and María José Pérez, with Bermúdez joining Valencia along with Andrea Esteban. Levante signed Noelia Ramos, Patricia Padilla, Natalia Ramos, Alba Aznar, Marta Cardona and 6-times league champion Miriam Diéguez within Primera División, and Greta Espinoza, 2017 Euro finalist Sofie Junge Pedersen and Jéssica Silva from abroad. After five seasons working on a €250,000 budget, the team's was increased to €300,000, the highest in nearly a decade.[5]

Levante won 7 of the 13 first games of the championship, settling in the 4th position near the halfway point of the league with two victories over direct rivals Athletic Bilbao and Valencia. However, two wide losses against Atlético and Barcelona started a 5-games losing streak and by February the team had plummeted to the 8th position.[6] On February 13, Andrés Tudela was sacked following a draw against newly-promoted Madrid. It was the third dismissal of a manager in the campaign, after Real Sociedad's Juanjo Arregi and Madrid's Jesús Núñez.[7]

Tudela was replaced by Kino García, the coach of the section's B team.[8] After a 0–6 debut rout over Espanyol, the team attained an essential three home games winning streak, but lost the remaining seven games in the championship and ended it in the 8th spot, barely qualifying for the Copa de la Reina on the head-to-head over Sporting Huelva thanks to Madrid losing its last game.[9] This was Levante's worst result in the championship since the 2010–11 season, after six seasons always ending either 4th or 5th. Charlyn Corral scored 25 goals, more than those scored by the rest of the team combined, and she was the top scorer of the championship with a five goals over Atlético's Sonia Bermúdez.[10] She is to become the second Mexican player awarded the Pichichi Trophy after Hugo Sánchez.[11]

In the Copa de la Reina Levante faced defending champion Barcelona in the quarterfinals, and lost both games by single goals scored by former Levante player Alexia Putellas.[12]

Transfers

InOut
DatePos.PlayerOriginDatePos.PlayerDestination
24 May 2017DF Patricia Padilla[13] Albacete9 Jun 2017MF Alba Merino[14] Santa Teresa
7 Jun 2017MF Alba Aznar[15] Zaragoza14 Jun 2017DF Mariajo Rocafull [16] Aldaia
7 Jun 2017MF Marta Cardona[17] Zaragoza16 Jun 2017FW Adriana Martín[18] Málaga
20 Jun 2017GK Noelia Ramos[19] Granadilla30 Jun 2017FW Sheila Guijarro[20] Málaga
20 Jun 2017DF Natalia Ramos Granadilla2 Jul 2017DF Nagore Calderón[21] Sevilla
30 Jun 2017FW Jéssica Silva[22] Sporting Braga4 Jul 2017FW María José Pérez[23] Granadilla
4 Jul 2017DF Greta Espinoza[24] Oregon State Beavers6 Jul 2017FW Andrea Esteban[25] Valencia (2017–18)
9 Aug 2017MF Miriam Diéguez[26] Barcelona (2016–17)7 Jul 2017GK Noelia Bermúdez[27] Valencia (2017–18)
11 Aug 2017MF Sofie Junge Pedersen[28] Rosengård19 Jul 2017DF Olivia Oprea[29] Sevilla
10 Aug, 2017DF Raquel Infante[30] Rodez

Results

Pre-season

4 August 2017 COTIF – G1 Valencia 1–0 Levante L'Alcúdia
Borini 67'Report
6 August 2017 COTIF – G2 Levante 2–1 Morocco (national team) L'Alcúdia
Gutiérrez 35'
Casado 55'
ReportHayat 30'
8 August 2017 COTIF – G3 Levante 2–3 Atlético Madrid L'Alcúdia
Corral 11', 16'ReportCalligaris 30'
Falcón 42', 72'
10 August 2017 COTIF – G4 Levante 1–0 Albi L'Alcúdia
Merino 51'Report
19 August 2017 Friendly Levante 3–2 Aldaia Buñol
Corral 16', 37', 43'ReportPinel
Cañaveras
22 August 2017 Friendly Zaragoza 0–0 Levante Zaragoza
Report
26 August 2017 Friendly Albacete 1–3 Levante Albacete
Matsukawa 66'ReportCorral 40'
Jiménez 55', ?'

Primera División

3 September 2017 1 Levante 1–1 Madrid Paiporta
17:00Corral 2'ReportMascaró 16'Stadium: El Terrer Municipal Field
Attendance: 600
Referee: Huerta de Aza
10 September 2017 2 Granadilla 1–2 Levante Granadilla de Abona
13:00Pérez 45'ReportGuehai 25'
Corral 60'
Stadium: Francisco Suárez Football Field
Attendance: 600
Referee: Sánchez Miguel
23 September 2017 3 Levante 0–1 Betis Buñol
16:00ReportParra 78'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 350
Referee: Acevedo Dudley
1 October 2017 4 Sevilla 5–5 Levante Sevilla
12:00Piemonte 18', 62'
Carmona 47'
Albarrán 69'
Morilla 85'
Reportda Silva 2', 53'
Corral 42', 65'
Na. Ramos 44'
Stadium: Viejo Nervión Stadium
Attendance: 300
Referee: Kinga-Hajnalka
8 October 2017 5 Levante 1–1 Espanyol Buñol
12:00Corral 33'ReportRoque 90+6'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 300
Referee: Villegas Navas
14 October 2017 6 Rayo Vallecano 0–4 Levante Madrid
16:00ReportCorral 25', 79'
Pedersen 49'
Corral 79'
Stadium: Rayo Vallecano Fundation Sports City
Attendance: 250
Referee: Frías Acedo
29 October 2017 7 Sporting Huelva 0–1 Levante Huelva
12:15ReportCorral 48'Stadium: La Orden Federative Fields
Attendance: 400
Referee: Líndez Ciurana
4 November 2017 8 Levante 5–1 Zaragoza Buñol
16:00da Silva 18', 61'
Corral 49', 90+2'
Pérez 90+6'
ReportLópez 56'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 250
Referee: González Sánchez
9 November 2017 9 Albacete 1–0 Levante Albacete
18:30Rodríguez 34'ReportStadium: Andrés Iniesta Sports City
Attendance: 568
Referee: Martínez Martínez
18 November 2017 10 Levante 1–1 Real Sociedad Buñol
10:45Guehai 89'ReportZornoza 31'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 350
Referee: Prieto Martínez
3 December 2017 11 Santa Teresa 0–3 Levante Badajoz
12:00ReportCasado 11', 77'
Corral 80'
Stadium: El Viejo Vivero Sports City
Attendance: 500
Referee: Fernández Ceferino
6 December 2017 12 Levante 3–2 Athletic Bilbao Buñol
10:45Corral 16', 21', 32'ReportDíez 39'
Gimbert 77'
Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 350
Referee: Prieto Martínez
3 December 2017 13 Valencia 2–3 Levante UD Paterna
10:45Vilas 36'
Peiró 90+1'
ReportÁlvarez 62' (pen.)
Casado 75', 82'
Stadium: Antoni Puchades Stadium
Attendance: 1,600
Referee: Huerta de Aza
16 December 2017 14 Levante 0–4 Atlético Madrid Buñol
16:00Reportda Silva 28', 47'
Sampedro 49'
Sosa 75'
Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 350
Referee: Martínez Madrona
7 January 2018 15 Barcelona 5–0 Levante Sant Joan Despí
13:00Bussaglia 9'
Guijarro 13', 23'
Putellas 43'
Martens 55'
ReportStadium: Joan Gamper Sports City
Attendance: 670
Referee: Villegas Navas
13 January 2018 16 Madrid 2–1 Levante San Sebastián de los Reyes
16:00Mascaró 68'
Boho 85'
ReportCorral 22' (pen.)Stadium: Matapiñonera Municipal Stadium
Attendance: 150
Referee: Fernández Ceferino
28 January 2018 17 Levante 0–1 Granadilla Buñol
12:00ReportPérez 72'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 50
Referee: González González
4 February 2018 18 Betis 2–0 Levante Seville
13:00Moreno 30', 65'ReportStadium: Luis del Sol Sports City
Attendance: 418
Referee: Cebollada López
10 February 2018 19 Levante 1–1 Sevilla Buñol
10:45Corral 86'ReportMorilla 6'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 150
Referee: Martínez Martínez
18 February 2018 20 Espanyol 0–6 Levante Sant Adrià de Besòs
12:30ReportCorral 4', 16', 56', 80'
Prim 19'
Pérez 67' (o.g.)
Stadium: Dani Jarque Sports City
Attendance: 325
Referee: Prieto Martínez
25 February 2018 21 Levante 2–3 Rayo Vallecano Buñol
12:00López 25'
Marín 79'
ReportPablos 9' (pen.), 55'
Morales 84'
Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 275
Referee: Sánchez Miguel
11 March 2018 22 Levante 2–1 Sporting Huelva Buñol
12:45Casado 75'
Corral 76'
ReportBernal 38'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 256
Referee: Rivera Olmedo
18 March 2018 23 Zaragoza 3–0 Levante Zaragoza
12:00Darlene 5'
Mayara 27'
Mallada 68'
ReportStadium: Pedro Sancho Stadium
Attendance: 550
Referee: Arregui Gamir
24 March 2018 24 Levante 4–2 Albacete Buñol
16:30Casado 74'
Guehai 76'
Matsukawa 78' (o.g.)
Corral 84'
ReportRedondo 13', 90'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 200
Referee: Villegas Navas
30 March 2018 25 Real Sociedad 2–1 Levante Lasarte-Oria
12:00García 21'
Ramajo 37'
ReportPérez 51'Stadium: Zubieta Facilities
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: González Sánchez
15 April 2018 26 Levante 3–0 Santa Teresa Buñol
12:00Corral 13' (pen.), 62', 90+1'ReportStadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 250
Referee: Huerta de Aza
21 April 2018 27 Athletic Bilbao 1–0 Levante Lezama
10:45Vázquez 12'ReportStadium: Lezama Facilities
Attendance: 526
Referee: Kinga-Hajnalka
28 April 2018 28 Levante 0–1 Valencia València
13:00ReportLomba 36'Stadium: Ciutat de València Stadium
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Martínez Madrona
5 May 2018 29 Atlético Madrid 1–0 Levante Majadahonda
18:15Bermúdez 3'ReportStadium: Cerro del Espino Mini Stadium
Attendance: 1,224
Referee: Frías Acedo
13 May 2018 30 Levante 0–5 Barcelona Buñol
16:00ReportGuijarro 18'
Martens 30'
Torrjeón 60'
Andressa 65'
Andonova 85'
Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 600
Referee: González González
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
6Betis30144124037+346Qualification for the Copa de la Reina
7Real Sociedad30108124237+538[a]
8Levante30115144950−138[a]
9Sporting de Huelva30115143542−738[a]
10Madrid CFF30106143456−2236
Source: La Liga, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
Notes:

Copa de la Reina

20 May 2018 QF – L1 Barcelona 1–0 Levante Sant Joan Despí
16:00Putellas 53'ReportStadium: Joan Gamper Sports City
Attendance: 309
Referee: Villegas Navas
23 May 2018 QF – L2 Levante 0–1 Levante Buñol
17:00ReportPutellas 82'Stadium: Buñol Sports City
Attendance: 600
Referee: Peláez Arnillas

Primera División statistics

No.Pos.BornSinceFIFAPlayerGamesGoalsDisciplinary record
NationalityFC
1GK19992016–17  SpainSandra Torres6000
2DF19952017–18  Mexico2014Greta Espinoza15010
3DF19962017–18  SpainPatricia Padilla0000
4DF19842011–12  SpainSonia Prim27171
5MF19942013–14  SpainLaura Gutiérrez24070
6DF19982015–16  SpainAndrea Palacios6010
7MF19922012–13  SpainAna Buceta6000
8FW19962015–16  SpainLucía Gómez28050
9MF19952015–16  SpainMaitane López27131
10FW19912015–16  Mexico2011Charlyn Corral292550
11MF19932017–18  SpainAlba Aznar21010
12FW19982017–18  SpainMaribel Ortega4000
13GK19992017–18  SpainNoelia Ramos24000
14MF19942011–12  SpainNerea Pérez25230
15DF19992017–18  SpainNatalia Ramos21330
16MF19862017–18  Spain2005Miriam Diéguez30030
17FW19902012–13  Spain2009Alharilla Casado30640
18FW19942017–18  Portugal2011Jéssica Silva20420
19MF19952017–18  SpainMarta Cardona27020
20MF19942016–17  Ivory Coast2011Ida Guehai19320
21MF19962014–15  SpainCarol Marín19100
22MF19922017–18  Denmark2011Sofie Junge Pedersen24110
30DF19972016–17  SpainAndrea Jiménez1000

References